Donadoni wants Parma to emulate Ajax

Parma coach Roberto Donadoni has outlined his plans to make the club a breeding ground for young players, with the renowned Ajax academy his inspiration.

Donadoni, 48, replaced Franco Colomba as Parma manager last month and has guided the Gialloblu to two wins and two draws in his first four matches in charge.

The former Italy coach is believed to have a restricted transfer budget at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, and so has signalled his intent to improve the club's youth set-up.

"I would like Parma to become a little talent factory, a club like Ajax," Donadoni told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It will take a lot of time and some great organisation, but president Tommaso Ghirardi and director general Pietro Leonardi have some clear ideas."

During his playing career, Donadoni tasted defeat to an Ajax side packed with talented academy graduates in the 1995 European Cup final, with the likes of Frank Rijkaard, Clarence Seedorf and Patrick Kluivert helping the Amsterdam giants beat AC Milan 1-0.